What to Do If You Get in an Auto Accident
A car accident could be a devastation. It could result in loss of income and benefits, massive out-of-pocket expense, and even severe injuries which require extensive treatment.
Whether you're the victim of an auto accident or who is watching one, there are a variety of actions you can take to ensure your safety and assist others.
Avoiding Distractions
If you're distracted while driving, it can affect your safety and that of others. Food, texting, and grooming are some of the most frequently-repeated distractions.
Distracted drivers can cause serious injuries or death to others near them. Drivers who are distracted could disregard road signs and hazards or miss unexpected complications.
Distractions can be anything that diverts a driver's attention from driving and causes them to lose control. They can be either visual, manual or cognitive and each is unique in its own way.
Visual distractions can distract drivers' eyes from the road, for example, using a GPS or the billboard, or even rubbernecking in an accident. This can be very risky, especially when the driver is traveling at highway speeds or when they are traveling by other vehicles or pedestrians.
Manual distractions can be dangerous, especially when drivers are not paying attention to the road ahead and fail to react quickly enough. Driving while eating is a huge distraction and can be a distraction, as could changing the radio station or searching for something behind the car.
Cognitive distractions are not as obvious but equally deadly type of distractions. These can be distractions like conversations on a cell phone, singing, or pondering an emotionally charged situation. They could also be a sign of drowsiness, which can make it difficult for drivers to focus on the road.
Set up good boundaries and practice attentive driving to be aware of distractions while driving. This can be accomplished by living by example and setting rules that limit the time spent on screens.
It's important that we remember that everyone is at risk of being a distracted driver and it's not just teens or drivers who are new. Older drivers, tired drivers and even pets can all be potential distractions when driving.
If you know someone who is susceptible to distraction while driving, be sure to speak with them about the importance of keeping their attention on the road, and how to prevent this from happening. It is also a good idea to encourage them to put their mobile phone on "do not disturb" mode and then turn off the device when they're behind the wheel.
Keep Your Distance
One of the most important ways to ensure the safety of your vehicle while driving is to maintain an appropriate distance between you and any vehicle ahead of you. This can help prevent a collision and shield the people around you from injury or death.
There are many ways you can ensure that you're following the correct distance. One approach is to employ the 3-second rule, which is a simple calculation that can aid you in determining if you're following too closely.
The 3-second rule is based on the fact that you need approximately three seconds to react when a vehicle suddenly brakes. If you are too close to the car in front of you, it will be difficult to stop safely.
This is especially true for truck drivers, who require plenty of space to safely brake when they are approaching the stop. Many accidents involving semis and large rigs happen because drivers fail to observe this road rule which can cause grave injuries or even deaths for everyone involved.
You can also estimate the distance required to follow a car by calculating the time it takes you to get to a specific place after the car in the front has passed it. You can do this by finding an overhead road sign, a tree, or any other roadside marker, and observing the car in front of you drive by it.
Once you've established how long it takes for your car to get there after the other driver has passed it, begin counting again. Begin counting 1-1,000, 21,000 and then 3,001, until you reach three seconds of gap between you and the vehicle ahead of you.
If you're unable reach three seconds in an uninterrupted row and you're not able to do that, gradually increase the distance you follow until you get there. This could mean slowing down to avoid the risk of crashing but it's definitely worth the effort.
The most frequent rear-end collisions happen when drivers are too close to the vehicle in front of them. You can avoid collisions by extending your distance of following.
Avoiding Rear End Collisions
Rear-end collisions are amongst most frequent types of auto accidents. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration states that they account for about three-quarters of all crashes that result in around 2,000 deaths each year in the United States.
While front-end collisions are much more fatal, rear-end collisions can be still a significant source of injuries and property damage. Rear-end collisions are also prone to a myriad of soft-tissue injuries, such as whiplash.
These injuries can leave drivers with significant discomfort and pain in their neck, shoulder, and back areas. They usually require physical therapy, medical bills, and lost wages to recover from.
The best way to avoid a rear-end collision is to keep a safe distance from other vehicles. This means that you must follow them at a reasonable speed and not lag behind them.
Driving too fast could increase the risk of a rear-end collision since you will not have enough time to be able to recognize and react to potential hazards, such as slower or stopped traffic in ahead of you. The National Safety Council recommends that motorists maintain a three-second minimum distance of following distance and larger vehicles more.
Rear-end collisions can be especially dangerous when weather or road conditions are threatening. If you're driving in snow or heavy rain, for instance, you may need to increase the distance you follow.
You should regularly check your rear-view mirror to avoid a rear-end collision. This will depend on the volume of the traffic is in front of you. This will allow you to determine whether the driver in front of you is slowing down or applying the brakes.
Another good habit to have is to use your turn signals when changing lanes or pulling out of a parking lot. This can help the driver in front of you be aware of your vehicle and prevent them from swerving out of their lane to cause a collision with you.
Keep children in the back of the vehicle while traveling with them. This will stop them from running around the vehicle, or becoming confused and distracted while driving.
auto accident lawyer no injury is recommended to keep your phone off the road when driving and to not use it to distract you. Talking on the phone or texting could lead to rear-end collisions.
Keep Your Engine Running
The engine of your vehicle could be one of the most crucial components for you as a driver, however it could also be among the most difficult parts. If you are involved in an auto accident, your vehicle's engine may not start immediately after you turn the key or press START.
The issue is difficult to identify or fix Therefore, you should bring your vehicle in as soon when the light turns on. The lights will alert you when there's a problem with the alternator, battery and temperature, as well as other parts of your car that require attention.
If you have trouble starting your vehicle after a minor accident it could be due to a tripped switch that cuts off power to the fuel pump. This switch is designed to keep your car from burning in the case of a collision, but can also damage the engine if it is tripped.
It is possible that you won't be able to start your car after an accident as your car's engine's transmission has stopped working properly. In this case, you will need to consult a mechanic in order to find out what caused the issue and fix it.
Even if you have an engine that's healthy is still necessary to check it out once a while to make sure it's properly lubricated and running. This can be achieved by turning the engine on gently and let it warm for 30 minutes.
You can take this opportunity to inspect all belts, hoses, and air cleaners in your vehicle to ensure they are working properly. This will increase your fuel mileage and keep your vehicle running smoothly.
This is also a great method to ensure that your tires are properly inflated. If your tires are properly inflated, they will ensure that they can be more stable on the road and decrease the chance of an accident involving a blowout of your tire or other damage.